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Minnesota Senate Approves First State Ban on AI ‘Nudification’ Apps

The bill now awaits Gov. Tim Walz’s signature, with an Aug. 1 start date if signed.

Overview

  • The measure passed the Senate 65-0 after earlier House approval and now heads to the governor as the first statewide ban of its kind.
  • It outlaws apps and websites that turn clothed photos into nude deepfakes and orders companies to block Minnesotans from using those services.
  • Survivors would gain a right to sue app owners for damages, and the attorney general could seek fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
  • Lawmakers carved out an exemption for tools that require user skill, such as standard photo editors, after consulting tech firms on unintended impacts.
  • Survivor testimony and advocacy, including from Minnesotan Molly Kelley and RAINN, drove the push, and federal plans to preempt state AI rules could later test the law.